Clutch



April 29, 1941- N. F. ADAMSON ETAL 2,240,279

CLUTCH Original Filed May 10, 1939 2 Sheets-Sheet l April N. F. ADAMSONEIAL 2,240,279

CLUTCH Original Filed May 10, 1939 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Apr. 29,1941 I CLUTCH Nicholas F. Adamson and Kay 1.. Bastrup, Racine, Wis.,assignors to Twin Disc Clutch Company, Racine, Wis., a corporation ofWisconsin Original application May 10, 1939, Serial No.

1940, Serial No. 332,769

6 Claims.

Our invention relates to clutches and more particularly to that type inwhich engagement is effected by a mechanical actuation of the componentelements in contrast to spring loading.

The principal object of our invention is to provide a clutch of thecharacter indicated in which the adjusting mechanism takes the form of aring that is threaded on the pressure plate.

This application is a division of our copending application for Clutch,Serial No, 272,768, filed May 10, 1939 and issued as Patent No.2,229,910

, on Jan. 28. 9 1.1.

. a driving shaft having mounted thereon a flywheel II which iscounterbored to provide an operating face l2. The flywheel functions asthe member of the clutch that is held against axialmovement and the face12 engages an annulus of friction material secured to the adjacent sideof a driven plate i3 that is slidably connected to a driven shaft I4 sothat the plate i3 rotates therewith, but is capable of axial movementrelative thereto. It will be understood that the terms driving anddriven, as applied 7 to the shafts i0 and M, respectively, are merelyillustrative, since the direction of drive may be reversed withoutaffecting the clutch construction hereafter described.

The friction annulus on the opposite side of the plate I3 is engaged bythe adjacent side of a pressure plate It which is drivably connected tothe flywheel by means of a plurality of circumferentially spacedtongues. it, one end of each tongue being received within a slot I! cutinward from the periphery of the plate 15 and the oppo site end beingsecured to a cover plate that is fixed on the flywheel and slightlyoflset there: from to provide-a housing for the operating mechanism.

This mechanism may take the form of a number of lever devices which maybe equispaced around the clutch and three such devices are illustratedin Fig. 2, all being identical. A U- shaped bracket l 9 is secureddirectly to the cover Divided and this application May 1,

plate It and pivotally mounted between the limbs of this bracket is alever 20 having anarm 2i which extends toward the pressure plate IS. Thefree end of the arm 2| is bifurcated to receive the reduced centralportion 22 of a dual roller 23 which rides along and abuts an annularflange 24 formed on an adjusting ring 25 that is threaded internally ofthe pressure plate IS.

The other lever arm 26 extends inward toward the driven shaft l4 and itincludes an elongated slot 21 within which operates a pin 28 that ismounted on an arm 29. This arm forms part of an actuating sleeve 30 thatis slidable along the shaft l4 and which incorporates an annular flange3i embraced by an operating collar 32 having a pair of trunnions 33 forengagement by the usual shifting fork (not shown).

The ring 25 provides a medium for adjusting the clutch as the facings onthe, plate i8 wear and as required by the fact that the levers 20 arecharacterized by a constant throw. The adjusted position of the ring 25is maintained by a plunger 34 that is slidably mounted in a pocket 35provided in the pressure plate IS. The plunger is hollow and is normallyurged to the right, as viewed in Fig. 1, by a helical spring 36, one endof which abuts against the base of the pocket and the other against theplunger. is provided with a reduced head 31 which is received within anyone of a plurality of equally spaced, arcuate notches 38 provided in theperiphery of the adjusting ring flange 24. A shoulder 39 is formed onthe plunger 34 and normally contacts the inner surface of the flange 24to limit outward movement of the plunger under the influence of thespring 36. A plurality of release springs 40 connect the pressure andcover plates l5 and I8, respectively, and these springs are underconstant tension when the clutch is engaged so that, when the levers 20are moved to a released position, the springs 40 assist in retractingthe plate I5 and maintain contact of the latter plate and the rollers23.

In Fig. 1, the clutch is shown in an engaged position and, in order torelease the clutch, it is merely necessary to move the actuating sleeve30 toward the right, as viewed in Fig. 1', whereupon position iseffected by pressure of the rollers 23 The latter against the flange 24,the levers fulcruming on the bracket l9.

As the clutch facings wear, adjustment of the clutch is easily effectedby depressing the plunger 34 suirlciently to free the adjusting ring 25for rotation, whereupon this ring can be retracted toward the right, asviewed in Fig. 1, a distance suflicient to maintain the desired contactwith the roller 23. This adjustment does not require any special tool.

Our improved clutch construction may be easily mounted upon-a flywheel,or other rotary part, with the major portion of its operating mechanismsubstantially housed within the cover plate I8 so that it ischaracterized by a high safety factor,

We claim:

1. The combination of a rotary member having a cover plate, an annularpressure plate having a bore coaxial with the member drlvably connectedto the cover plate and axially shiftable to grip a driven plate againstthe member, an adjusting ring threaded within the bore and having anabutment flange disposed adjacent a side surface of the pressure plate,a lever pivoted on the cover plate and having an arm for engaging theflange, and means for rocking the lever on the cover plate as a fulcrumto cause the arm. to move the pressure plate to engaging position.

2. The combination of a rotary member having a cover plate, a pressureplate mounted for rotation with the member and cover plate and axiallyshiftable to grip a driven plate against the member, an adjusting ringthreaded internally of the pressure plate and having an abutment flangedisposed adjacent a side surface of the pressure plate, a lockingplunger carried by the pressureplate and selectively engageable with anyone of a series of notches in the flange to maintain the adjustedposition of the adjusting ring, a lever pivoted on the cover plate andhaving an arm for engaging the flange, and means for rocking the leveron the cover plate as a fulcrum to cause the arm to move the pres-- sureplate to engaging position.

3. In a clutch/the combination of a pair of clutch devices, an annularpressure plate having a bore coaxial with the clutch connected to one ofthe devices and shiftable to drivably connect both devices, an adjustingring threaded within the bore and having an abutment flange disposedadjacent a side of the plate, and a lever carried by one of the devicesand having a portion engageable with the flange to move the plate todriving position.

4. In clutch construction, the combination of an annular pressure platehaving a bore coaxial with the clutch adapted to clamp clutch members indriving engagement, an adjusting ring threaded within the bore andhaving an abutment flange disposed adjacent a side of the plate, and alever held against all movements other than a pivoting movement andhaving a portion engageable with the flange to move the plate to drivingposition.

5. In clutch, construction, the combination of an annular pressure platehaving a bore coaxial with the clutch adapted to clamp clutch memb-ersin driving engagement, and an adjusting ring threaded within the boreand having an abutment flange lying adjacent one side of the plate, theflange being adapted for contact by the actuating mechanism of theclutch to shift the plate to working position.

6. In clutch construction, the combination of an annular pressure platehaving a bore coaxial with the clutch adapted to clamp clutch members indriving engagement, an adjusting ring threaded within the bore andhaving an abutment flange lying adjacent one side of the plate, theflange being adapted for contact by the actuating mechanism of theclutch to shift the plate to working position, and a locking plungercarried by the pressure plate and selectively engageable with any one ofa series of notches in the flange to maintain the adjusted position ofthe adjusting ring.

NICHOLAS F. ADAMSON. KAY L. BAS'IRUP.

